NORTH BATTLEFORD — Among all other policy position exchanges that clashed between Sask. Party candidate Jeremy Cockrill and NDP candidate Tom Kroczynski in their first and most likely the only election debate forum in the Battlefords, the question about the attack ad vehicle that had been driving around town seemed out of place and cooled down the fast and fiery attacks.
While business owners seized the opportunity to witness the two local MLA candidates face off in person, both parties present were yet defensive when confronted with the attack ad.
“Okay so here we are in a democracy,” Kroczynski said, adding that the ad could be sponsored by anyone, and it doesn’t have to be the NDP Party, before turning the tables on Cockrill and the Sask. Party.
“My question to Mr. Cockrill would be: ‘How did this happen?’”
The ad reads “Sask. Party Candidate Jeremy Cockrill under investigation times two” with the graphics suggesting stacks of money flying behind him.
“The NDP is looking for an opportunity to bury me; it’s politics,” said Cockrill, who later added that he has been actively co-operating with the Conflict of Interest commissioner since elected and said the business under investigation and “that they are maligning has been doing business in this community for 30 plus years.”
In a press conference earlier that day, Kroczynski stated he is aware of the vehicle but “honestly” does not know who sponsored the attack ad on the vehicle.
Two parties’ policy differences: Affordability, education, and public safety
One of the longer exchanges during the debate was affordable housing, as questions from the crowd keep circling it back.
Cockrill did not offer a particularly in-depth vision as to how the Sask. Party is responding to the housing crisis, highlighting Saskatchewan's competitive living costs, stating it has “the second-lowest utility bundle in the country.” He defended the party’s plan for a personal income tax cut and some specific proposals, including increasing the first-time homebuyer tax credit from $10,000 to $15,000 and a comprehensive approach to housing.
Kroczynski emphasized the struggles faced by residents on fixed incomes, stating, “Everyone is feeling it.”
He criticized the Sask. Party’s focus, arguing that their approach overlooks the broader needs of the community.
“I've seen on the doorstep who are struggling. Okay, one person there, one person there. No, it is rows of houses. I'm talking to people, and they have tough stories. They're on fixed incomes, and they are fighting the rising cost of everything,” Kroczynski said in an interview after the debate. “It’s frustrating because the Sask. Party seems focused on, merely one part of this giant picture. Here the NDP is a more balanced approach, where we need a strong economy to pay for all the help that this province, all the people in this province need.”
Cockrill was then countered by discussing investments in public safety and addictions treatment. He noted that the government has allocated funds for 14 inpatient addiction treatment spaces at the former Drumming Hill Youth Centre facility in North Battleford: “The safest place for someone choosing to get out of addiction needs to be a provincially funded treatment bed.”
The candidates largely agreed on challenges in education funding.
Kroczynski, a seasoned teacher with 20 years of experience who raised his four children in North Battleford, showcased his community involvement in the debate stage when launching a more focused attack, describing the real-time working/learning environment for teaching staff and students, that he argued Cockrill of Sask. Party was out of touch.
“We are not getting to all the kids,” Kroczynski said, stressing on the lack of resources to address students with special needs.
Cockrill referenced the Saskatchewan Party's record of increasing the education budget significantly over the past four years, while Kroczynski argued for a more equitable distribution of resources.
Kroczynski said he would be an advocate for the new North West College campus if elected, stressing that one-third of Saskatchewan's First Nations are in the college’s region which needs to be taken care of as part of the economic reconciliation process.
Married into the Battlefords and having served the community for the past four years, Cockrill said he would like to carry on the ongoing projects such as the care centre and new college in the community.
“We're going to be working with the Chambers of Commerce again. Should we have the opportunity to form a government on a new small and medium enterprise tax credit, which will encourage equity investment being made into small and medium-sized businesses in the Battlefords and all around the province, and provide a tax credit to people who are making those investments? That means that business owners are maybe looking to move on and sell their businesses. It's an opportunity for them,” Cockrill said.
Candidates have contrasting visions for the community’s future: Kroczynski’s focus on economic support for vulnerable populations versus Cockrill’s emphasis on economic growth.
Access NOW TV filmed the candidates earlier this month, producing a full-length program featuring 12 questions for each candidate. The program will air on Access cable TV's community channel on the following dates: Friday, Oct. 25, at 7:30 PM; Saturday, Oct. 26, at noon.
For those who prefer online access, the program can also be viewed on the Battlefords Chamber of Commerce website at www.battlefordschamber.com by following the links to “Decision 2024 | Northwest Provincial All Candidates.” The total runtime is approximately 55 minutes.
